Pendulum limb support crutch



Feb. 12, C. E PENDULUM LIMB SUPPORT CRUTCH Filed Nov. 9, 1949 Inventor PIn H Cam/llo E. Badnar ((IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII/ Patented Feb. 12, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PENDULUM LIMB SUPPORT CRUTCH Camllo E. Bodnar, Tampa, Fla.

Application November 9, 1949, Serial No. 126,428

Claims. l

This invention relates to novel and useful improvements in attachments for crutches.

An object of this invention is to support the leg of an individual on a swinging standard which is attached to a crutch for pivotal movement and to regulate the effective length or size of the support in accordance with the desires and needs of the person employing the device.

Ancillary objects and features of novelty will become apparent in following the description of the illustrated form of the invention.

On the drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of a crutch having the attachment operatively connected therewith;

Figure 2 is a side view of the device shown in Figure 1 showing schematically one suggested use thereof;

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 2 and in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 4 is a transverse view taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Figure 2 and in the di rection of the arrows;

Figure 5 is a sectiona1 view taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Figure 2 and in the direction of the arrows.

A crutch generally indicated at l has an upper shou1der rest l2 together with a ground engaging cap l4 at the lower end. The crutch is purely conventional in nature and has been chosen as the element to which the article of invention is attached.

A pvot pin, as the bolt IG is passed through the upper end of the crutch in order to secure the standard generally indicated as l8 thereto for pivotal or pendulous movement.

The standard 8 is extensible and consists of a metal strip or rod having arcuate longitudinal edge portions 22 and 24. A second rod 26 is disposed therein and is of shape similar to the first rod 20. The two rods are telescopically adjustable with respect to each other.

A limb support is operatively connected with the standard. Reference to Figure 5 shows a part of the detail of construction of the limb support. The lower end of the rod has an extension 30 disposed at right angles to the main longitudinal axis thereof. The rod 32 has a smoothly curved upper end 34 and an extension 36 projecting from the lower end. The crosssectional shape of the rod 32 is similar to the cross-sectional configuration of the rod 26 and 29. However, the rod 32 is slightly larger than the rod 26 so that it fits over the extension 39 and 2 is held in place by means of a rivet 38 or the like.

A plate 40 having down turned longitudinal edges is disposed on the extension 36 and the resilient or flexible pad 42 is carried thereby. The plate 40 is held in place by any suitable means, as the rivets 44 and 46 which are fixed to the rod 32 and the rod 26 respectively.

Means releasably holding the rod 26 together with the rod 32 in extended position with respect to the rod 20 is provided. This means consists of a collar 5 which is disposed around the rod 32 and the rod 20 (Fisure4). A screw 52 is threaded in openings provided in the rod 32 and in the collar 50 and frictionally contacts the sur face of the rod 20. A wing type head 54 is provided on the screw 52 for manual operation thereof.

In operation the screw 52 is loosened and the standard is extended or retracted thereby moving the limb support upwardly or downwardly. The screw 52 is then tightened after the proper elevation of the support is' obtained. At that time, the user of the device places his limb in the limb support so that a part thereof contacts the resilient pad 42. Movement of the crutch l0 is then permitted but this movement is independent of the swinging or pendulous movement of the standard l8. Balance and proper posture is easily achieved when the limb is permitted to move With the standard IB, as it swings about the pvot HS as an axis.

Having described the inventon, What is claimed as new is:

1. In combination a crutch having an upper end and a lower end, and an attachment for the crutch, said attachment comprising a standard pivoted to the upper end of the crutch, and a limb support operatively connected with said standard, said standard consisting of a first rod, a second rod extensibly connected with said first rod, and means releasably looking said rods in selectedpositions with respect to each other.

2. In combination, a crutch and an attachment, said crutch having an upper end and a lower end, said attachment including a standard pivoted at its upper end for swinging movement to the upper end of said crutch, said standard including a pair of extensibly connected sections with means for fastening said sections in selected extended positions, and a limb support operatively connected With one of said sections for swinging movement therewith and for adjustment with respect to the other of said sections.

3. An attachment for a crutch, said attach= d la ment comprising a standard having means at one end for pivotal attachment to the crutch, said standard including an upper section and a lower section, said sections being extensibly connected together, means for fastening said sections together in selected extended positions, a 1imb support fixed to one of said sections and operatively connected with the last-mentioned means for attachment to the other of said sections and for adjustment with one of said sections with respect to the other of said sections.

4. The combination of claim 3 and said 1imb support including a rod with a lateral extension at one end connected to the lower section and having a pad thereon, and the upper end of 15 said rod being connected with said means for fastenng said sections together selected positions.

5. The combination of claim 3 and one of said sections being hollow with the other of said sections slidably disposed therein.

CAMILLO E. BODNAR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 751,942 Renno Feb. 9, 1904 1,418,283 Cameron June 6, 1922 FOREIGN PAIENTS Number Country Date 61,103 Germany Mar. 19, 1892 

